SAN ANTONIO — Who wants stale Smarties when you can have free Batman comics? Halloween ComicFest returns Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 26-27, for its annual trick-or-treat heaping of free comic books, big costume contest and other fun. And you bet your puffy-muscled Dark Knight suit that includes comic shops in San Antonio.

Halloween ComicFest runs a lot like Free Comic Book Day, only in October with an emphasis on Halloween-centric events and merchandise. Giveaway comics this year include “Batman: The Long Halloween Special Edition” No. 1, “Thor: God of Thunder” No. 1 and “Ultimate Spider-Man Adventures” No. 1, plus kid-friendly titles like “Adventure Time” and “Zombie Kid Diaries: Walking Dad” by San Antonio’s own Antarctic Press.

Here’s a list of participating shops in the San Antonio area. Hit ’em up before or after Alamo City Comic Con.